Eye Lens Radiation Doses to Miscentering Patients and Health-Care Staff From Head Computed Tomography

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to assess the effect of patient vertical miscentering on eye lens radiation doses in patients who have undergone head computed tomography (CT) and to measure the absorbed dose to the eye lens in health-care staff who remain in the CT room during the procedure. All measurements were performed in phantoms. Nanodot™ optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters were used to measure radiation doses. For the assessment of the effect of patient vertical miscentering, CT scans were obtained at six different table heights. The radiation doses in the eye lens of health-care staff received when working at three different locations in the CT room were measured. Correction coefficients were applied to determine equivalent dose, Hp(3), in the eye lens. The results revealed that the positioning of patients off the CT scan isocenter during head CT may result in a significantly increased eye lens dose. The phantom eye lens doses can be increased by 43.7% (70 mGy), and image noise increased when the table was 5 cm below the isocenter due to the effect of the bow tie filter and eyes being irradiated directly by the primary beam for a greater proportion of the tube rotation. An estimated eye lens dose of ≤0.1-0.2 mSv was found in phantoms simulating health-care staff, with the dose depending on positioning of the phantom. Health-care staff in the room during CT scans are at risk of a significant eye lens dose, particularly if positioned posterior to the gantry.